Battery-well.



PATENTBD JUNE 30, 1908.

. MASSEY BATTERY WELL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. zo. 1907.

CHARLES F. MASSEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BATTERY-WELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1908.

' 'Appncaaon med August 2o, 1907. serai No. 389,377.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES F. MAssEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in BatteryNVells, of which the vfollowing is a specification.

The systems of electric block signaling,

used on railways, require the. locating, at

intervals along the track, local batteries which are brought into operation by a rela in a track circuit, either through a track linstrument or byother suitable means; and, generally, these local batteries are arranged adjacent to orin proximity to the signal. These local batteries require to be fully protected against freezing and against injury from other causes, and should, therefore, be surrounded by'a closure of a nature that'will. prevent freezin of the batteries and which is` accessible on y to the employee-who has, ersonal charge ci maintaining the batteries 1n o erative condition, and for this reason the atteries should be located in a well or receiver so constructed as to maintainl a temperature therein which will prevent freezing of the cells, and this well or receiver should be of a formation to furnish the support for a number of battery cells, and should also be accessible only to the employee or person invcharge of the batteries, or some other authorized agent of the railway.

v he'. objects of the present invention are toconstruct a well or receiver for a` lurality. of battery cells and formed of a ske eton frame of metal, or other suit-able material, inclosed within a wall of concrete and having openings with suitable covers which will render the interior of the well or receiver non-freezing; to construct'a framework for a battery well or receiver of metal uprights and an encircling wire or strand mesh adapted for receiving, retaining and supporting an inclosing -wall' oi" concrete; to construct a skeleton frame of metal or other suitable material and having'vertical studs, strips or uprights provided `with headed interlocking pins to receive bracket supports for the reception of shelveswithin the interior of the battery well s or receiver; to construct -a battery well or receiver having a skeleton frame of metal or other suitable material and an inclosing wall of concrete furnishing` a chamber,

adapted to receive shelving on which the battery cells can on the top adapted for the reception of tlie tools and other ap making repairs or or rechargin0r the battery cells; and to improve genera ly the construction of the frame, the wall and the other elements or parts entering into the formation of the battery well or receiver as a whole.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts here inafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the frame, showing the surrounding network or mesh, and extending' only partly over the body of the well or receiver .an only partly over the top of the well or receiver, but it is to be understood that the network or mesh is to extend entirely over the body and over the top in the completed frame; Fig. 2 a vertical central sectional elevation of the completed well or receiver;`

Fig. 3 a cross section of the completed well or receiver'of Fig, 2 Fig. 4 a detail enlarged, showing a lower corner of the bottom and side wall of the well or receiver; Fig. 5 a detail, partly in section, showing the attachment of some of the vertical studs, strips or uprights to the upper ring of the frame; Fig. 6 a detail, partly in section, showing the attachment of some of the vertical studs, strips or uprights to the lower ring of the frame; Fi 7 a detail, partly in section, showing tA e attachment. ofthe continued bottom strip and side or vertical strips or iFrpriglits to the bottom ring of the l'raino;

ig. 8 adetail, partly in section, showingr the attachment of thc vertical mesh -wires or strands to the bottom ring of the frame;

AFig. 9 a detail in section, showing the attachment of the bottoni mesh wires or strands to the bottom ring ol the frame; and Fig. l0 a detail, showing the Vvertical member of a bracket for supporting the shelves.

liances and material forl The frame, around which is formed the wall of concrete, consists of an upper ring l, set or standing flat or edgewise horizontally, and a lower ring 2 set or standing vertically edgewise, to which rings the vertical studs, strips or uprights for the frame are connected. The vertical studs, strips or uprights 3, as shown, are four in number. and

each stud, strip or upright, at its upper end, has an ear 4, through .which and the upper ring 1 a bolt or rivet 5 passes, connecting the upper ring with the'r vertical studs,vstrips or uprights; and each vertical stud, strip orupright, at its lower end, is turned onitself to form an ear 6, with a space .between the ear and the body of the stud, strip or upright, which space receives the lower band 2' and the lower band2 has lthe lower end of each stud, strip or upright attached thereto by a bolt or rivet 7, passing throughl the band, the upright and the ear, as shown in Fig. 6.

A strip or cross piece 8 of metal or other suitable material, extends across underneath th'e lower band 2, and is continued upwardly to furnish two side uprights 9, which are secured tothe lower band by bolts or rivets 7 or otherwise. Each strip or upright 9 is'continued upwardly on an inward inclination so `Ias to furnish-a support 10, and

'the' support 10 is continued horizontally from its upper end, so as'to form a top lstrip or supportll l,on opposite sides of the frame. The strip or cross 'support 1 1, on one side, has

--its ends upwar'dly turned to form an ear 12,

l' and the oppo ite strip or cross support 11 has its end 'form d into an eye ,or loop 13, as shown in Figs. '1 and 2. The several verti- -cal studs, strips or uprights 3 and 9, each have a plurality of pins 1 4 inwardly projecting therefrom,y each pin, as shown, havlng a head 15, and these pins furnish theattachment for the bracket supports for the shelves.

'The lower band 2, in the arrangement l shown, has a series of holes 16 for the passage of cross wiresorstrands 17 within the interior ofthe band; and,. as shown, leach wire or strand 17, has each end 18 turned, so

*as to form a stop and hold the wire or strand in place; and within theinteriorof thelower band is a second series of cross wires' or strands 19 located either above or below `the cross wires or strands 17 and passing through y holes, as do the wires 17, or otherwise secured in place so as 'to.furnish,-with the wires or strands 17, a mesh `constituting a support and reinforcement for the bottom wall of the well or. receiver.

The body of the' frame is encircled by a winding of wire or a strand 2O of metal or -the body of the frame.

other suitable material, which 'winding as shown, is 'around the exterior of the verticai studs, strips or uprights 3 and 9, and extends from 'the lower band 2 to the upper band 1 of The winding of wire or other strand 20 is crossed by wires or strands 21 of met'al or other suitable material, so as to form, with the wires or strands 2() of the winding a mesh furnishing a sup art and reinforcement for the body'wall o the well or receptacle, when com leted. The vertical wires or strands 21 of t e mesh, each has its lower end 22 turned and passed through holes 23 therefor in the lower band 2 of the frame, attaching the lower end of the wires or strands to the band, and the up er end of the top of the wall of the well or receptacle;

and a series of cross wires or strands 25 ',of

metal or other suitable material extends' over the top winding of wires or strands 24 and across the top supports 11, furnishing, with the winding wires or strands, a mesh forming an upper support or reinforcement for the top wall of the well or receptacle when completed. The-upper cross wires or strands. 25

can be independent wires or strands, or can 'be continuations of the vertical wires or strands 2].; and if independent wires or.

strands y25 are used their ends can be attached to the upper band 1, by turning the ends, or otherwise. The upper and lower bands, with thel vertical stripscr uprights between'thern and thex side supports or strips 9 Qwith the end extensions 10 and 11 thereof, in connection with the bottom mesh formed by the cross wires or strands 17 and 19 and the body mesh formed by the encircling wires or strands 2O and the vertical cross wires or strands 21 and the top Vmesh formed by the encircling wires or strands 24 and the cross-side and top wires or strands 25 form an independent frame,which furnishes a support for the concretewall of the Well or receptacle and a reinforcement for strengthening and "sustaining: the wall,

and is a safeguard against 'inward crushing or forcing of the wall of the well. or receptacle, when embodied wholly or partly in the earth. The well or receptacle, when complete, has

a bottom wall 26, a body or side wall 27, an

inclined wall 28, and a topv wall 29, formed entirely of concrete by the use of a suitable `mold or former, as is usual in making concrete walls or work'. The top wall 29, as shown, has an annular rim 30 which surrounds an opening 31 extending through the top wallpand beow the top wall 29 and within the inclined Wall 28 is a chamber '32; and above the bottom wall'and within the body or side wall is a chamber 33, which last chamb'er'is for the reception of the battery cells. The chamber 33 has locatedtherein shelves 34, which, as shown, are arranged in tiers, one above the other, and are continuous around the circle of the chamber, but insteadof being continuous, the shelves could be otherwise arranged.

Each shelt` is formed of a plurality of sections, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, but could be otherwise formed. The shelves are each supported by brackets, and each bracket, as shown, is formed oi' a hori-A zontal member 35, with an upwardly turned end or. stop 36 to engage the edge of the shell', and a vertical member 37 having an upper and lower keyhole slotBS, so that the hori- ,zontal member of each bracket can be en- -tered onto an upper and When entered in position, held iirmly by the heads of the pins so as to furnish a rm and rigid support by the brackets for the shelves.

The chamber 32 is separated from the chamber 33 by a partition or cross wall 39, having an opening 40 in line with the opening or hole 39, so as to permit access to the chamber 33 when'-required. The partition or cross wall` 39 can be made of boards, and when so made, can have a coating or covering 41 of waterproof material, which coating or covering has an opening 42, coinciding with the opening 40 in the partition or cross wall.

The opening 'or hole 31 is to be tightly closed by a suitable cover; and, as shown, the cover has a-top plate 43 with a de )ending flange or rim 44 encircling the nec 30; and the depending flange or rim, on one side, has an ear 45, by means ot' which and a link 46 the cover is connected with the eye or loop 13, so as to be elevated or raised readily, when required lor the operator or repairer to enter the receiving chamber of the well or receptacle rlhe opposite side oi the rim or iiange 44, to the ear has a strap 47, with a slot for the passage ofthe end 12 which end has a suitable hole for the reception of the hasp of a lock 48, thus preventing the cover from being raised, except by the party having the key lo the lock. The opening, in the partition 39 and the covering or coat'- ing 41, is closed by a cover 49, which can be in the form oi' a stopper cover, as shown, having an eye 5U, by which the cover can be raised and .set to one side to permit access through` the opening 40 into the receiving chamber-of the well or receptacle.

The chamber' 33 can have located therein a ladder or steps 51, shown by dotted lines in/ Fig. 2 of the drawing, which ladder or steps, it the upper end, has an extension 52 to engage the under side of the partition or cross wall 39 and the inner face of the body or side wall of the well or receptacle, and has, at 1ts lower end, an extenslon 53 to rest on the bottom wall of the well or rece tacle and engage the inner face of the bo y or side wall, by which extensions 52 and 53 the ladder or steps is held in an upright position and at the same time can be set at any point desired, so that, from the ladder; the battery Vcells on thelv various shelves can lie-readily reached by the repairer or other partyy enter# lower pin 14, andv ing the receiving chamber 33 for repairing or recharging the batteries. The neck 30 is to have formed therein one or more holes 54 for the passage of the Wires or cables connecting the cells or batteries to the rails or other apparatus of the automatic signals.

In constructing the well or` receptacle, the supporting frame, formed of' the upper and lower bands3` the vertical studs, strips 0r supportsl and the bottom, body and top mesh of wires or strands of metal or other suitable material, as hereinbefore described is set up, and the mold or form, between which the walls of the well or receptacle are made, is placed in position around the frame, as usual in making concrete work, it'being understood that the mold or form is to be of the knock-down type so that, after the concrete-walls have been formed around the frame, the mold or 'form can be removed, leaving a well or receptacle having integral bottom, side and top walls of concrete, reinforced and supported by the frame enibedded in the walls'. The shelves can be placed in` position by engaging the vertical 'member of each bracket with the attaching pins, and then placing the shelves in position on the brackets, for the inner edeey of each shelf to be engaged by the rib or lip of? each horizontal member of the bracket, which attaches the shelf in position and holds the same in a irm manner. The partition or cross wall is placed in position resting on the upper lace of the upper band of the frame, or otherwise supported, and the covers for the openings 31 and 4() can be' placed in posi tion, with the ladder or steps within the receiving chamber, completing the well or receptacle ready for use. I

In use the battery cells to the number de sired, are placed on the shelves within the receiving chamber 33; and the material for repairing and recharging and the necessary tools therefor can be placed in the chamber above the partition or cross wall so as to be ready for ilse, thus dispensing with the necessit of the op'erator or repairer carrying the app iances with him for making the repairs or for recharging the battery.

The well or receptacle is to be lined with waterproofing and the exterior walls -of concrete are to undergo a treatment or process, for -making them absolutely waterproof, thereby f reventin the chaniliers, an when this is done the cell or tank can'be shipped or transported to ,the location where the same is to be used in position. n

lThe well or receptacle of the present in \vention will be found strong and durable, owing to the supporting and reinforcing l frame formed of metal and around which the moisture to permeate and sunk in the ground or otherwise placed loo concrete wall of the well orI receptacle is formed; and the detachable brackets Within the receiving chamber furnish a means, in connection with the sectional shelving, for placing the shelving in position, either to form an entire circle, or to form semi-circles,

as may be desired. The openin s permit sults are very desirable, particularly with batteries-used in railway si naling.

What I regard as new an desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Ina battery well, a frame formed of an upper band, a lower hand, side uprights connecting the two bands, a bottom mesh attached to the lower band, a body mesh attached to the u per and lower bands, and a top mesh att-ac ied to the upper band, in combination with a concrete wall supported and reinforced by the frame, 'substantially as described. l A

2. In a battery well, a frame formed from an upper band, a lower band, a plurality of uprights connecting the bands, a cross piece connecting opposite parts of the lower band, side supports one at each end of the cross iece, each side sup ort extending vertically rom the-lower bam to the upper band, then inclined inwardly and then turned horizontally, forming a vertical portion, a diagonal portion and a horizontal top portion, a bottom mesh attached to the lower band, a body mesh attached to the lower and upper bands, and a top mesh attached to the upper band, in combmation with a concrete wall supported and reinforced by the frame, substantially as described. i

3. In a battery well, a frame Jformed of an upper band, a lower band, a plurality of up-` rights connecting the bands, a cross piece connecting opposite parts of the lower band, side supports one at each end of the cross piece, 'each side support extending vertically rom the lower bam to the upper band, then inclined inwardly and then turned horizontally, forming a vertical 1portion, a diagonal portion, and a horizonta top portion, a series oiE headed pins inwardly projecting fromthe side uprights and side supports, a bottom mesh attached to the lower band, a body mesh attached to the upper and lower bands, and a top mesh attached to. the upper band, substantially as described.

4. In a battery well, a frame formed of an up er band, a lower band, a plurality of up rig its connecting the bands, a cross piece connecting the opposite parts of the lower l band, side sup orts one at each end of the cross piece, eac side support extending verticallyfrom the lower band to the upper band, then inclined inwardly and then turned horizontally, forming a vertical diagonal'portion and a horizonta to ortion, one side support at the inner en o its horizontal portion havingan eye and the other side support at the inner end of its horizontal mesh attac ed to `the lower band, a body mesh attached to the up er and lower bands, and a to mesh attached) to the upper band, substantially as described.

5. In a battery well, a frame formed of an uppler band, a lower band, a plurality of uprig ts connecting the' band, av cross piece connecting opposite parts of the lower band, side supports one at each end of the cross iece, each side sup ort extending vertically rom` the lower ban to the upper band, then inclined inwardly an'd then turned horizontally, Jforming a vertical,A ortion,' a diagonal portion and a horizonta ortion, one side support at the inner end of its horizontal portion having an eye and the other side su`pport at the inner end of its horizontal portion aving an ear, a series of headed pins in Wardly projecting from the side uprights and side supports, a bottom mesh attached to the lower band, a body mesh attached to the lower and upper bands, and a top mesh attached to the upper band, substantially as described.

6. In a battery well, a frame formed of an upper band, a lower band, side uprights'connecting the upper and lower bands, a bottom ortion, a

ortion having an ear, a bottom mesh attached to the lower band, a body iece, each si'de support extending vertically rom the lower band to the upper band, -then inclined inwardly and then turned horizontally, forming a vertical portion, a diagonal portion, and a horizontal top portion, a bottom mesh attached to the lower band, a body mesh attached to the lower and upper bands, and a top mesh attached to the lower band, in combination with a bottomwall of concrete, a side wall of concrete, and a top wall of concrete,the several walls supported and reinforced by the frame, substantially as described.

8. In a battery well, a frame formed of an upper band, a lower band, a plurality of up rights connecting the bands, a cross piece connecting opposite parts of the lower band, sidesupports one at each end of the cross piece, each side support extending vertically from the lower band/to the upper band, then inwardly inclined and then turned horizontally, forming a vertical portion, a diagonal portion, and a horizontal top portion for each suppo?t a series of headed pins inwardly projecting from the uprights and side supports and extending through the side wall of the well, a bottom mesh attached to the bottom band, a body mesh attached to the lower and upper bands, and a top mesh at- .tached to the upper band, in combination with a bottom wall of concrete, a side wall of concrete, and a top wall of concrete, the several walls supported and reinforced by the frame, substantially as described.

19. In a battery well, a frame formed of an.

up er band,` a lower band, a plurality of uprig ts connecting the bands, a cross piece connecting opposite parts of the lower band,

vside supports one side support at each end of the cross piece, each side support extending ,vertically from the -lower band to the upper band, then inwardly inclined and then turned i bands,

horizontally forming a vertical portion, a diagonal portion, and a horizontal top portion for each support, one side support at the inner end of itshorizontal portion having an eye and the other side support at the inner end of'its horizontal portion having an ear,

`a bottom mesh attached to the lower band,

apbody mesh attached to the lower and upper and a top mesh attached to the upper band, in combination with a bottom wall of [conci-ete, a side wall of concrete, and a top wall of concrete, the several wall-s supported and reinforced by the frame, substantially as described.

10.v In a battery Well, a frame formed of an upper band, a lower band, a plurality of uprig ts connecting the bands, a cross piece connecting opposite parts of the lower band, fside supports one at each end of the cross ieee,- each side support extending vertically om the lower band to the upper band, then inwardly inclined and then turned horizontally, forming a vertical portion, a diagonal portion, and a horizontal top portion, one side support at the inner-end otl its horizontal portion having an eye and the other side support at the inner end ol its horizontal portion aving an ear, a series ot' headed pins mwardly projecting from the side uprights and side supports and extending through the side wall of the well, a bottom mesh attached -to the lower band, a body mesh attached to the lower and upper band, and a lop mosh attached to then per "band, in combination several walls supported and reinforced by the frame, substantially as described.

1l. In a battery well, an upper band, a lower band, a plurality of side su ports connecting the bands, a series of heaed pins inwardly projecting from the side uprights, a bottom mesh attached to the lower band, a body mesh around the side uprights and attached to the lower and u per bands, a bottom wall of concrete, a sir e wall of concrete sup orted and reinforced by the bands, the nprights and the bottom and side meshes,I a series of brackets within the chamber oi' the body wall engaged and supported by the headed pins, and shelves carried by the brackets, substantially as described.A

12. In a batterywell, the combination of a frame, consisting of a bottom formed of a lower band and an attached mesh, a body formed of uprights and a mesh, both connected to the lower band and to an upper band, a top formed ofthe upper band and an attached mesh, a bottom Awall of concrete, a body wall of concrete and a contracted vtop wall of concrete, the walls furnishing a cham. ber adapted to receive shelves and the several concrete walls supported and reinforced by the frame, and the top wall having a neck with an opening, and a tight closure for the neck o ening, substantially as described.

13. n a battery well, the combination of a frame, consisting of a bottom formed of'a I lower band and an attached mesh, a body formed of uprights and a mesh, both con" nected to the lower band and to an upper band, a top formed ol" the upper band and an attached mesh, a bottom wall of concrete,

and a body wall of concrete, the walls fue' nishing a chamberadapted to receive shelves and a contracted to wall of concrete, the several concrete wal s' supported and rein forced by the frame, the top wall having a neck with an opening, a tight closure for the neck o ening, a partition at the top of the body c iamber and having an opening therein, and an air tight cover for the opening in the partition, substantially as descril'ied.

14. In a battery well, the crmibination of a frame formed ot' an upper band, a lower band, side upiights conm-vering the bands, la

loo

cross piece connecting opposite parts ot' the lower band, sitle supports one at each end of the cross piece, each side support extending' of the frame, a bottom concrete wall, a body into the chamber of the Well, substantially as 10 concrete Wall and a top concrete wail having l described.

a neck inclosing an opening for access to the l GHARLES F MASS'EY mesh attached to' the upper band for lhe top l permit Wires or cables to be carried through chamber of the Well, an air tight closure c011- y nected at one side with the eye of one side Witnesses:

supA ortand at theopposite side with lhe ear OSCAR W. BOND, of t e other side support, and an opening to WALKER BA NNI NG. 

